Gal in the Gulf: A Different View of the Middle East

By Vanessa Molina

With the media blasting out horror stories about the Middle East and the Muslim faith, this American teacher went to work in Kuwait with fears and doubts most people in the West have about that area of the world. From the smells of the food to the goofiness of her friends and the experiences of mingling with an international community, the author recounts personal and spiritual exposure to a world that is often feared and misunderstood by the Western world.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: Nov 8, 2016
• ISBN: 9781524645564

Vanessa Molina

Writing is one of my many passions in life. I have done it since I was a child, but actual publishing was never a realization until now. My experiences and the encouragement of a very personal friend prompted me to write this book. I am thrilled that this story about the Middle East is my first published book. I hope this book soothes the fears of my immediate and distant family and friends who have ever had any doubts about my safety in the land of mosques, mystery, and Muslims.

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© 2016 Vanessa Molina. All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

Published by AuthorHouse 11/07/2016

ISBN: 978-1-5246-4557-1 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-5246-4556-4 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2016917313

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models,

and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

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Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. Dedication

2. Preface

3. The Road to Kuwait: Emotions

4. The Road to Kuwait – Why Go?

5. The Road to Kuwait: Isn’t it Dangerous?

6. Preparations

7. Kuwait: The National Museum

8. Souk Mubarakiya (the Oldest Souk in Kuwait)

9. Kubbar Island

10. Devotion

11. Allah U Akbar!

12. Indian Dance Festival: Dandiya

13. The Wedding

14. 110 degrees

15. Kidzania

16. Fun! Fun! Fun!

17. Habibi - Term of Endearment

18. My Driver (Kuwait)

19. Clothes Encounter

20. A Heavy Heart … but Joyful.

21. Update

DEDICATION

I would like to thank the many people who have made this project possible. Without them, this book would not have happened.

First and foremost, I thank Almighty God for the many gifts He has given me through my life and one of the best ones is writing, among others. May this book glorify and honor you Lord God. Thank you for your blessings.

For fear of forgetting to mention anyone who has had a part in this book, I will ask the deepest apology in advance if I had said that you would be mentioned and I did not do it.

Next, I must thank my children, Alan and Alycia, my sparkly diamonds from the rough and their betters halves, Sarah and Riley. My granddaughters, Diamond, Gabi, Celeste, Elana, Serena and Kaleb are the other reasons why I have written this book, so they may someday have the experiences that I have through the love and curiosity of travel and language.

Next I would like to thank Javier Molina, a man who has encouraged me to tap into what he noticed was one of my favorite things to do in my spare time. Nunca te olvidaré. Con todo cariño, Vane.

As much as I struggled with the title for this book, I must mention Tara Norris who one day at breakfast on a sunny cool morning in springtime Kuwait told me the title within a heartbeat of asking her, and it stuck. Thanks Tara!

Dr. Hesham Haggag, without your tireless, loving support, and encouragement for me to come to this part of the world, this book would not have been possible. Thanks from the bottom of my heart and soul; I owe you a debt of gratitude. This book is one way to do that.

To my many supporters through my first delightful year of discovery of life in the Middle East in Kuwait; Rana Mohammed Shinawi and the Arabic teachers who always saved me some strong coffee every morning, Andreea Rosca, Karen Jury, Sarah Rios, Narin Abouhamze, Anisa Nessa, and the rest of the KG2 staff at A’Takamul International School, Kuwait City, Kuwait.

Lamees Al-Nager, Marie-Louise Weeks, fellow writer, Marie Arter, Mitchell Alexandre, Raymond Bustamante and Luke Thompson. Tanya, I hope you are getting better, hopefully our paths will cross again. Khadeeja Dweikat, my tireless TA who has listened to countless times about how much I am going to write a book. Also, I thank the rest of the staff at American Baccalaureate School, Abraq Khaitan, Kuwait.

I must not forget my good friends at Internations.org, Kuwait forum. Without being exposed to the international experience, I would not have been able to get this project off the ground. Thank you: My brothers Hameed Yousef and Refik Naccur, my other friends who keep an eye on me, the members of El Club Español, the members of Groupe de Français, and all the other subgroups who have supported me in this endeavor.

To the managers and the staff at both of the IHOPs where I spent countless hours polishing my craft as you patiently walked by my table and asked if I needed anything. Nasser, thanks for your endless support, love you, friends forever. Rethina, thanks for the coffee from Starbucks. CJ Lingo, Paul, Patrick, Maria Rosa and all others who tended to my hunger needs. Thank you all!

To my fellow writers: Elizabeth Tupomalohi, Amal Hayaty Battuta, Marie-Louise Weeks, and those of you who are writers but did not tell me, we share a common bond that I think only writers can understand.

Finally, to all my family and friends in the United States and the Middle East on Facebook who have read my stories and asked me for more. Without your support and encouragement, I would not have gone through with this. Thanks for making me stick through with it and pursue it. You know who you are.

This is my dream come true. I never thought it would be about the Middle East, but publishing a book is a dream come true.

PREFACE

B eing born